About NEFE Funding

We provide funding for rigorous, innovative, and actionable research that seeks to improve the public's financial well-being and has the potential to make a profound contribution to the field of financial education. Our funding cycle operates on an annual basis and is open for Letter of Inquiry submissions each year from September 15 to November 15.

We welcome original research questions and replication studies that align with our funding priorities. Research projects must use rigorous empirical and/or theoretical analysis. Original data is welcome but not required.

 

Our Funding Priorities

• Measurement: Studies that re-evaluate current financial literacy metrics and how financial literacy, behavior, perception, knowledge, and skill can be measured more effectively.
• Systemic Inequality: Studies that investigate knowledge, skill, and wealth disparities, especially among populations that are statistically more likely to experience systemic barriers to improving their financial well-being.
• Data and Methodological Limitations: Studies that examine bias—specifically as it pertains to personal finance— to help our field identify knowledge gaps and to strengthen research data and design by including traditionally less-heard voices.
• Youth Focus: Studies that examine inconsistencies in exposure to financial education among youth in the U.S. as well as variations in financial socialization and education within family units.

 

Our Funding Process

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December, January, and February
Our internal review team evaluates each Letter of Inquiry, reaching out to applicants with any clarifying questions and conducts initial video calls as part of our due diligence.

​February and March
We conduct second round video calls with applicants with whom we would like to move forward. These calls allow us to engage in scholarly dialogue and continue our evaluation process, while providing applicants with an opportunity to give a formal presentation of their potential project. After a second round of video calls, applicants will be notified if they have been invited to submit a full proposal to NEFE. We allow approximately three to four weeks for the full proposal to be submitted.

March and April
Our internal team reviews the full proposals, asks clarifying questions if necessary, and makes funding decisions. Final funding decisions are sent out in April.